Focus and lack of focus

Sometimes it is important to focus on what we are doing, particularly if we have bought into the idea of "mindfulness".

Yes, this is important and useful.

But equally it can be important NOT to focus, but to allow a flow, a stream of consciousness.

And that will prompt a focus.

Ethical considerations

I've been thinking a lot recently about the use of AI for behavioural psychology... Like "nudge units".

Particularly in the public sector, where is the ethical oversight?

The argument may be put forward that this is for the "greater good", but when you are - especially as a state monopoly - manipulating your citizens in any way (organisations may be different, I've not thought that through yet), how does that stack against freedom, and against authoritarianism and dictatorship?

On course

It's all about knowing where you are going.

If you don't know where you are going, how will you tell if you are on the right path?

Or even if you don't know which road you are travelling, how can you tell if it is the right one for you?

Letting things go

Sometimes you will let things go.

Not let things go as in "get over them", but as in fall out of your routine and stop doing the things that you really should, and that you want to, and that you know you could but... well...

It's easy to find reasons, excuses or general "life got in the way" type of justifications as to why you stopped - whether that being stopping blogging, stopping reading regularly, stopping meeting up with friends, whatever it is you promised yourself you were going to make a part of your daily/weekly ritual.

But it doesn't matter - what matters is getting back on top of it, and recognising that you can do better.

Keep going. If it means starting again, start again. It's the not starting that is the problem.

Procrastination with intent

It's easy to put things off. It's easy to avoid doing things.

But sometimes you just have to do it.

So do it.

But if you really, really want to put something off, why not just examine the reasons WHY?

If you can justify delay, then delay. If you can't, then don't.

Failure is not an option

Failure - what does that mean, anyway?

OK, so maybe, just maybe you "fell short" of your goal.

Or someone didn't like what you did - and maybe even told you so, in no uncertain terms.

But you should take something from this.

Did you try your best? Did you do what you thought was right? Yes? So what is the problem? Why are you valuing the opinions of others above your own?

It's not about perfection in someone else's eyes - it's about striving to achieve the best you can, to be the best you can be - and to seek to improve and learn and move forward.

Failure is not an option, because the only failure there is would be to fail to try your best and seek to be better each day.

Passing the test

Every day you will face tests.

Testing your physical fitness or endurance.

Testing you knowledge and understanding.

Testing your patience and character.

It's not about passing such tests. It's about approaching them with the humility to understand that you may fail. And it's about knowing that you did everything you could to prepare for these tests, and knowing that whatever the result no-one can take that away from you.

Mirrors

Sometimes it is important not to think of what you are going to do, but to reflect on what you have done.

Learn from it. Grow from it.

Listen carefully

Can you hear it?

It's the sound of your own voice, telling you to just try.

It's better to aim high and miss, and learn from the experience, than aim low and hit the target.

Have a little faith

Why do you think you will "fail"?

What is so wrong about "failing", anyway?

It's an opportunity to learn, to progress, to improve.

If you don't try, you will never know.

Others may mock, but you have achieved, while they have not. You have learned, you have progressed, you have improved.

What have they done?

Isn't it better to aim high and fall short than to aim low and hit the target?